Method and machine for making box blanks



April 26, 1955 c. CLAFF EI'AL 2,705,944

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING BOX BLANKS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 17.1950 April 26, 1955 c. CLAFF ETAL METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING BOXBLANKS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 17, 1950 April 26, 1955 c. L. CLAFFETAL 2,706,944

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING BOX BLANKS Filed Jan. 17, 1950 4Sheets-Sheet 4 mmm United States Patent Ofifice 2,706,944 Patented Apr.26, 1955 METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING BOX BLANKS Clarence Lloyd Clatf,Chester E. Clatl, and Carl A. Mueller, Randolph, Mass, assignors, bymesne assignments, to M. B. Clatf & Sons, Inc., Randolph, Mass., acorporation of Massachusetts Application January 17, 1950, Serial No.139,071 4 Claims. (Cl. 101-227) speed, and more particularly that typeof box blanks designed and intended to be set up into boxes or cartonsan exposed face of the box,

upon one end.

ously at constant and unvarying speed, and permitting the free passageof the web except when the creasing blades and cutting knives were inoperative contact with the same. Such prior machine, however, whilecapable of producing art, nevertheless showed a tendency to hunt or overcorrect when the speed of the feed rolls was automatically changed toadjust the position of the printed matter on the blank.

adjustment resuming its prior of rotation.

Another feature tive operation, to maintain the printing correctlypositioned on the blanks.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate what is now considered tobe the preferred form of the present invention,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section and more or lessdiagrammatic in character, of the complete machine which comprises alaminator or web-forming unit A and a blank forming unit B.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a roll of printed cover paper showingthe printed labels and the guide marks used in the laminator unit A.hows 'in perspective a completed blank made from the composite web ofcardboard and cover paper.

Fig. 4 is a perspective of the completed box made or set up from theblank of Fig. 3.

ig. 5 is a side elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the blank forminginstrumentalities of unit B, together with the driving mechanism of thefeed rolls.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the feed and die rolls and the drivingmechanisms therefor.

Fig. 7 is a vertical, longitudinal section on line 77 of Fig. 6 showingthe train of gearing which forms a part of the driving mechanism for thedie rolls.

die rolls, and the controlling devices for momentarily varying the speedof the die rolls to angularly adjust the same.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged perspective of the web scanning device and of theweb marker for supplying guide marks for the web scanning device.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged elevation of the control box on web forming unitB.

The complete machine shown in the drawings for forming the box blanks inaccordance with the present invention comprises two units. The firstunit indicated at A in Fig. l, assembles the continuous web of pasteboxmaterial 11, which is drawn from the supply roll 13, with the coverpaper web 15 having the spaced printing or labels 16 and drawn from thesupply roll 17, adhesively securing the two webs together to form acomplete printed web 19. Th dicated at B, creasing, and web intoseparate or individual printed blanks which are discharged onto aconveyor.

In assembling unit A the cardboard web 11 through the rolls 21 and edgeguides 23 to the pressure is 25, Where the pre-printed paper web 15,with its upper or unprinted face coated with glue or other suitableadhesive by the gluing roll 26 supplied from the gluing tank 27, throughpump 28, pipe 29, and discharge nozzle 30, is applied to the bottomsurface of the cardboard web.

passes the presas shown in said In the blank forming unit B of ourpresent machine, the composite web passes from the assembling unit Amthe depending loop 39 over the decurling or straightenrng roll 41, andunder the bar 43 to the edge guides 44 wh ch guide the composite web tothe longitudinally creasing idler rolls 45.

The advance of the web 19 from the loop 39 to and through thelongitudinal creasing rolls 45 1S effected by power driven feed rolls 46and 47, which also convey or push the web to and through the die rolls48 and 49 having the transverse creasing blades 50, the longitudinalslitting knives 51, and the transverse severing km e 52, which completethe formation of the blank and sever it from the composite web. (SeeFig. 7.)

The mechanism for driving the feed and the rolls comprises a variablespeed power transmission device 55 o the well known type, commonly knownas the Reeves transmission, having a flanged driving pulley 56 on shaft57 which is driven from the motor 58. See Figs. 1 and 5. A secondflanged pulley 59 on shaft 61 is driven from pulley 56 by belt 63. Boththe feed and di e rolls rece ve their power through this Reevestransmission 55, which may be adjusted to regulate simultaneously thespeeds of the feed and die rolls by the revers'ble adjusting motorcarrying on its shaft the worm 65 meshing with ad usting gear 66 Theactuation of the motor is controlled by push buttons grouped with otherbuttons and controls in duplicate control boxes 67 and 68 positioned atopposite ends of the machine, described hereinafter in more detail.

The feed roll drive from the Reeves transmission 55 is followingmechanism. Fixed upon the driven shaft 61 1s a small pulley 69 connectedby belt 71 with large pulley 73 on shaft 75 (see Figs. and 6). At oneend of this shaft adjacent the large pulley is fixed the gear 77 whichmeshes with gear 79 on shaft 81 of a second variable speed transmissiondevice 83. This second transmission is preferably of the positive drivetype, commonly known as PIV (positively infinitely variable) and has avariably driven shaft 85. The speed of this shaft may be varied asdesired by the operator, through the hand wheel 87, worm gear 89, andgear 91.

Fixed on the variable driven shaft 85 is a gear 93 which meshes with theidler gear 95, which in turn meshes with gear 97 fixed upon one end ofthe shaft 99. (See also Fig. 10.) Fixed upon the other end of the shaft99 is the gear 101 which meshes with the gear 103 on the shaft 105,carrying the lower feed roll 47 and also carries the gear 109 meshingwith the gear 111 on the upper feed roll shaft 113 carrying the upperfeed roll 46. Thus the feed rolls are driven in opposite directions at anormally constant speed which may, however, be manually adjusted by theoperator.

The mechanism for driving the die rolls from the first variable speed orReeves transmission, comprises a gear 117 on driven shaft 75 connectedthrough the idler gear 118 with gear 119 fixed upon one end of the shortshaft 121. On the opposite end of shaft 121 is the mitre or bevel gear123, meshing with cooperating bevel gear 125 on shaft 127, connected bycoupling 129 with input shaft 131 of the planetary transmission deviceshown generally by reference character 133 in Figs. 6 and 10.

The purpose of the planetary transmission is to permit a momentaryincrease or decrease in the speed of the die rolls, thereby effecting anangular adjustment of the same and thus shortening or lengtheningslightly the severed blank to vary the position of the printed matterthereon.

The planetary transmission, illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawing,is of the usual spur gear type. The input shaft 131 has fixed upon itthe worm 134 meshing with the gear 136, keyed upon sleeve 137 which isrotatably mounted upon output shaft 139 and is provided with the lateralannular extension 143, having gear teeth 145. These teeth mesh with gearteeth 147 on pinion 149 fixed upon one end of the short shaft 151rotatably supported in the web 153 of worm gear 155 provided withbearing bushing 157 freely rotatable on shaft 139. On the opposite endof short shaft 151 is fixed another pinion 159, the te-eth 161 of whichmesh with the teeth 162 of gear 163 fixed upon output shaft 139. A worm165 fixed upon shaft 167, engages the worm gear 155 and normally holdsthe same from rotation.

Thus, when the worm gear 155 is held stationary, pinions 149 and 159 actas idlers to transmit motion from gear 136 driven by worm 134 on inputshaft 131, to

gear 163 and the output shaft shaft 169 carrying the lower gear 171which meshes with gear 173 fixed upon shaft 174 carrying the upper dieroll 48. When however, shaft 167 is momentarily rotated, worm gear 165is given a slight rotational movement, which supplements the idleraction of the pinions to increase or decrease momentarily the speed ofrotation of output shaft 139, thereby varying the angular adjustment ofthe die rolls and the position of the printed matter on the finishedblank. This results from the fact that while the gear teeth on pinion149 and annular extension 143 are equal in number, the intermeshing gearteeth on pinion 159 and gear 163 are unequal. In the specificconstruction shown in the drawings, pinion 149 and extension 143 areeach provided with 21 gear teeth, while pinion 159 and gear 163 have 20and 22 teeth, respectively.

In the machine of the drawings, the control shaft 167 s actuated bymeans of a reversible electric motor which s automatically controlled byelectric eye devices so that it operates in one direction or the otherwhen the printing becomes misplaced on the blank, thereby adjusting thedie rolls and returning the printing to its proper position on theblank. The reversible the drawing at 175, connected through sprockets177 and 179 and chain 181, with control shaft 167. Cable 183 supplieselectric current to the motor at the times and in 139 which is coupledto die roll 49 and also the electric motor is shown in vthe directiondetermined by the electric eye devices,

through its three conductors 184, and 186. 184 is the conductor forsupplying current for the forward rotation of the motor to advance thedie roll, and 185 is the conductor for supplying current for reverserotation of the motor to retard the die roll, 186 being the commonreturn. (See Fig. 10.)

l The electric eye devices are substantially the same as in our pendingapplication Serial No. 13,388, above referred to, and comprise a webscanner unit 187 having a lamp 188 and lens 189, for directing a beam oflight onto the paper web adjacent its edge from which it is reflected tothe selenium cell 191 (see Figs. 10 and 11). Electric current issupplied to the lamp through the cable 192. Preferably the web isprovided with spaced markings 193, which pass successively through thelight beam and momentarily cut off the reflection of light to theselenium cell, thereby causing an electric impulse to be impartedthrough the connections 194, 195, to the control box 197. As shown inFig. 11 the guides 45 for the edge of the paper web are cut away at 199beneath the light to expose the markings.

Cooperating with the web scanner is a rotating scanning device,indicated generally at 201. This scanner is substantially the same asthat shown in our earlier application Serial No. 13,388, and comprises ascanning disc 203 fixed upon shaft 205, coupled to the rear end shaft139 of the differential driving mechanism so that the disc rotates inunison with the lower die roll. Diametrically offset from one another inthe cylindrical wall of the disc are the openings 209 with a source oflight consisting of an electric lamp 211 positioned within the disc 203between the openings; lenses 213 are fixed on opposite sides of the lampand direct the rays of light from the same toward the paths of openings209 in the rotating scanning disc and onto the prisms 215 which deflectthe rays onto the selenium cells 217. These cells are connected by wires218 and 219 and common return 220 with control box 197 and conduct thecell impulses thereto. See Fig. 10.

The impulses transmitted from the web scanner cause the momentaryclosing of the main switch of the reversible motor 175, while impulsestransmitted from the disc scanner to the control box operate to closemomentarily first one direction switch and then the other, in the motorcircuit. Normally, when the parts have been properly adjusted toposition the printed matter on the blank, the main switch will be closedand then opened in the interval between the closing of the forward andof the reverse direction switches. Under these conditions no electriccurrent will be supplied to the motor, and the adjustment of theplanetary transmission will remain unchanged.

If, however, the guiding marks 193 are displaced to one side or theother of their proper position as they pass beneath the web scanner, thetiming of the impulses to the control box from the web scanner will beadvanced or retarded with respect to the impulses imparted by the discscanner. As a result, the main switch will be closed when one or theother of the direction switches is closed, and current will be suppliedto the motor for forward or reverse rotation, as the case may be,causing a momentary actuation of the control shaft 167 and an angularadjustment of the die rolls. Successive ad ustments will continue to beimparted to the die roll so long as the successive markings 193 aredisplaced from their original spacing, but as soon as the markingsreturn to their normal spacing further adjusting motion of the rollswill cease and the rolls thereafter will operate at their originalconstant speed.

In order to indicate to the operator in simple and unmistakable mannerthe fact that the motor is operating in the direction in which thecorrection is to be made, the control box 197 may be provided with redand green lights 223 and 225, respectively, which are wired into themotor circuit as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 10, and flash with eachoperation of the motor. Thus red flashes may indicate that the motor isoperating to advance the die roll and thus cut a shorter blank, while agreen light shows that the motor is retarding the die roll to cut alonger blank. Current for operating the motor 175 and lights 223 and 225is supplied through connection 227 from an outside source ofelectricity.

If the machine is properly adjusted and the displacement of the marks isof a temporary nature, as is usually the case, the adjustments of thedie rolls will be of small amount, after which the machine will operatemore or less continuously without further change, both feed and dierolls continuing to rotate at their original constant speeds. Sometimes,however, displacement of the marks from their original spacing is moreor less permanent 1n character so that the reversible motor is caused tooperate more or less continuously. Under such conditions, the operatorwill preferably adjust the variable speed transmission 83 in the feedroll driving mechanism, to speed up or slow down slightly the speed ofthe feed rolls 46 and 47.

Ordinarily such adjustment will be so slight that the loop between theun' s A and B will not be appreciably affected. However, it is a simplematter to compensate for the slight change in the speed of the feedrolls 46 and 47 in unit B by adjusting slightly the Reeves transmission37 of unit A to increase or decrease the speed of feed rolls 33 of unitA as required, thereby positioning the printing correctly on the blankwithout continuous actuation of the reversing motor.

While ordinarily the guide markings 193 are applied to or printed uponthe cover paper before the roll of cover paper is placed in the machine,it is of advantage in setting up the machine for operation with thedesired web of printed cover paper to start the machine with only a rollof plain or dummy web of inexpensive paper with which the necessaryadjustments can be made, thus avoiding the wasting of the more expensiveprinted composite web. At such times markings may be convenientlyappliedto the plain dummy web by means of a printing device, shown inFig. 11. This comprises the wheel or roll 231 freely rotatable upon arm233, pivoted upon the upright 235 fixed to the guide 45, the latterbeing cut away at 237 to permit the wheel to rest upon the uppermarginal surface of the web and turn freely with the movement of the webbeneath it.

A printing device is secured to the face of the wheel comprising acylinder 239 for containing the ink and the felt pad 241 extending fromthe cylinder slightly beyond the periphery of the wheel so that witheach revolution of the wheel a mark, such as indicated in Fig. 2 of thedrawings at 193, will be produced upon the top surface of the web at oneedge. The diameter of the marking wheel 231 will be such that the markswill be spaced from one another on the dummy web exactly the samedistances they are printed on the selected printed web, so that themachine can be operated with the dummy web and the printing device inoperation, the necessary adjustments being made until dummy blanks areproduced of the desired length with printed markings positioned theproper distance from the ends of the blanks. When this is accomplished,the composite printed web will be substituted for the dummy, and theprinting device will then be rendered inoperative by swinging the arm233 upwardly and to the rear of the machine until the printing wheel 231rests upon the top of the guide 45 with the felt pad 241 at the top. Themachine may then be started without further adjustment to operate uponthe printed 6 web and produce a printed blank with the printing properlypositioned thereon.

In order to assist the operator in properly adjusting the angularposition of the die rolls with respect to the markings, an index mark245 has been placed on the end face of the upper die roll, see Fig. 7,and a pointer 247 mounted upon the arm 248. Conveniently the mark 245and pointer 247 will be in line when the severing knife is completingits cutting operation as shown in Fig. 7, at which time a guide mark 193will be beneath a certain one of the series of openings 249 in the edgeguide 45, depending upon the desired length of blank to be produced.These openings are spaced predetermined distances from the web scannersuch that by first adjusting the web to bring a guide mark 193 beneaththe appropriate opening and then adjusting the die rolls, while the webremains stationary, to bring the mark 245 on I he end of the upper dieroll into alignment with pointer 247, the operator will cause the dierolls to cut the web at the proper place with relation to the guidemarks, to position the printing correctly on the severed blank when themachine is set in regular operation.

v In order to facilitate the threading of the machine, that is, thedrawing of the web through units A and B preparatory to starting themachine in operation, manually operable means are provided for liftingthe upper roll of the feed rolls 33 in unit A and 46 in unit B, topermit the front end of the web to be passed freely through these rollsand also for the purpose of rendering the feed rolls, and morespecifically rolls 46 and 47 in unit B, inoperative during certain lateradjusting operations on the machine.

For this purpose each end of the die roll shaft is provided with thelifting mechanism shown in Fig. 7, which comprises the upper bearingblock 250, slidingly mounted in the side guides 251 connected at theupper ends by the cap 252. Bearing block 250 is normally presseddownwardly by the springs 253 surrounding the lifting rods 254 fixed inthe block 250 and passing through openings in the cap 252. These rodsare connected at their top by the cross bar 255.

Rotatably mounted in the caps 252 at each end of the feed roll is theshaft 256 extending across the machine. Fixed uponthis shaft at eachend, and positioned beneath the cross bars 255, are the eccentrics 257which are normally in the position shown in Fig. 7, with their lowportions positioned beneath and spaced from cross bars 255 so that thefeed rolls are pressed firmly together by the springs 253. An operatinghandle 258 is fixed upon the outer end of shaft 256 so that the operatormay, by turning the handle through degrees,

tween the rolls in threading the machine, or later to render the feedrolls, particularly those in unit B, inoperative when rotated to advancethe web.

After the machine has been properly threaded, the upper feed rolls 33and 46 of units A and B, respectively, are lowered onto the web, themachine is ready for operative tests and adjustments, and in order tofacilitate such testing and adjusting, control devices or boxes havebeen placed conveniently for the operator, one, 67, at the rear end ofunit A where the operator stands when starting the machine, and theother, 68, at the front end of unit B, where he takes his position whenthe machine is running, in order to observe the operation of unit B andto make the necessary adjustments therein.

At both of these stations the operator may start and stop both unitssimultaneously or either one independently of the other. Also he mayimpart short or momentary feeding movements to the web in either unit orin both units simultaneously. At the front control box 68 only, he mayalso adjust the die rolls in either direction to position the printingcorrectly on the finished blank or put such adjustment under the controlof the automatically operating electric eye devices.

At the rear control box 67 only, he may also adjust either of the Reevestransmissions 37 and 55 to increase or decrease the speed imparted tothe web as it passes through units A and B, respectively.

In order to secure these results, both control boxes 67 and 68, shown inFig. 12 and Fig. 5, are provided with a top row of push buttons 261 and262, which, when pressed, set in operation motors 35 and 58 for drivingunits A and B, respectively, through their Reeves transmission 37 and55. The third row down of push buttons 263 and 264 are for stopping themotors 35 and 58. Between the rows of motor starting and stoppingbuttons is another pair of buttons 265 and 266 for causing momentary orjogging actuation of motors 35 and 58 respectively, which continues solong as these buttons 265 and 266 are held depressed. The starting,stopping, or jogging of the motors may be effected either simultaneouslyor separately at the option of the operator.

In addition to the above described push buttons for controlling theoperation of the driving motors for each unit, control 67 is furtherprovided with pairs of push buttons for adjusting the Reevestransmissions 37 and 55 for varying or adjusting the speed of the web asit passes through each unit. These are push buttons 267 and 268 foradjusting transmission 37 to increase or decrease the web speed in unitA, and buttons 269 and 270 for similarly adjusting transmission 55 toincrease or decrease the web speed in unit B.

Control box 68 is also provided with additional controls not present incontrol box 67, viz. a switch having control lever 271 which, whenraised, render operative the electric eye devices for automaticallycontrolling the actuation of reversing motor 175 for ad justingangularly the die roll. When the lever is swung downwardly, theautomatic control is cut off and motor 175 comes under the manualcontrol of the operator through push buttons when depressed, producingrotation of the motor in forward direction to advance the die rolls, andthe latter producing rotation in the opposite direction to retard thedie rolls.

The operation of the machine is as follows:

Assuming the machine is to be preliminarily adjusted with a plain ordummy web, a roll of this material is mounted on unit A and its free enddrawn by the operator through rolls 21, and 33 to the front end of unitA, the upper roll of feed rolls 33 first being raised by means of theeccentric lifting devices shown in Fig. 7. Lever 271 on control box isat this time in lower position for manual control of the reversing motor175 for angularly adjusting the die rolls.

The starting push buttons 261 and 262 at control 67 are now depressed tostart the driving motors 35 and 58 of units A and B, setting in motionthe feed rolls 33in unit A and feed rolls 46 and 47 in unit B, throughtheir Reeves transmissions 37 and 55, respectively, which at this timeare adjusted to drive the feed rolls at greatly reduced speed. The toproll of feed rolls 33 of unit A is next lowered upon the web which isnow fed slowly from unit A. The free end of the web is now carried byhand through the guides, creasing rolls, and feed rolls member of thelatter pair having the eccentric lifting devices.

The upper feed roll in unit 8 is now lowered upon the web, which beginsto feed out blanks from the machine. If the various parts of the machineare functioning properly at low speed, the operator depresses pushbuttons 267 and 269 of control 67 to increase the speed of the web inboth units, holding the buttons depressed until the desired speed ofoperation of the machine is attained. During this operation the buttons267 and 268 are manipulated, first, to provide a loop of web of thedesired size between the two units, and then to maintain such size ofloop While the machine continues to operate.

When the web has been brought up to the desired speed, and the loopbetween the units remains of constant size, the operator leaves hisstation at control box 67 and on his way to box 68 puts the printingwheel 231 into operation to print a few of the guide marks on the dummyweb.

The operator then stops the machine by depressing stop buttons 263 and264, and observes the position of one of the guide marks with respect tothe particular aperture of series 249 in web guide correspond ing to thepredetermined length of the blank to be cut. If the mark is not beneathsuch aperture, the operator manipulates the jogging buttons 265 and 266until the desired registration is secured, after which the machine isleft stationary.

The next adjustment to be made is to bring the die roll into proper timerelation with respect to the marks first been raised by 273 and 275, theformer,

46 and 47 of unit B, the upper 193 to position the printing properly onthe severed blanks. If the mark 245 on the end of the upper roll isdisplaced a substantial amount from pointer 247, as is usually the caseat this stage, the operator releases the web from the grip of the feedrolls in unit B by turning the actuating handle of the eccentric liftingdevices, and then jogs the driving motor of unit B by pressing button266 until mark 245 and pointer 247 are in alignment. During this joggingoperation the web remains motionless, with the mark 193 beneath theproper aperture in the guide member 45.

The upper feed roll in unit B is now lowered to grip the web, and bothunits A and B are set in operation by simultaneously pressing bothbuttons 261 and 262 of control 67.

The operator now raises the control lever 275 for throwing the electriceye devices and reversing motor into operative condition, and observesthe red and green signal lights 223 and 225 on the control box 197. inall probability one of these lights will begin to flash, indicating thatthe control devices are operating to correct some inaccuracy, usuallyslight, in the angular adustlng of the die rolls, and such flashing willcontinue until the rolls are brought into perfect adjustment.

If, however, one of the lamps continues to flash for a substantialperiod of time, indicating a continuing inaccuracy, the operator willadjust the PIV transmission either to speed up or to retard slightly thespeed of the feed rolls in the direction indicated by the color of theflashing lamp.

Eventually the correct adjustment for both the PlV transmission and theangular positioning of the die rolls will be obtained and the machinewill produce satisfactory blanks, with one or the other of the signallamps flashing only for short periods following a substantial period oftime when neither light operates.

The machine is now ready for commercial work with regular cardboard andprinted cover paper. These are substituted for the dummy web, and themachine is set in operation to produce commercial blanks. It may bethat, due to the different material of the web, or to a slight variationin the printing of the cover paper, further adjustments may be requiredat the start, or during the running, but such adjustments will be ofslight extent and easily effected by the operator through themanipulation of the push buttons and control levers.

Variations in the spacings of the guide marks on the printed cover areordinarily very small, almost minute, and the necessary correction inthe angular position of the die rolls is correspondingly small. As aresult, the error or inaccuracy is corrected before it has time to reachany substantial degree, so that the variations in the length of theblank produced by this machine are wholly negligible and hardlydiscernible.

By the use of the flashing lamps, the operator may observe at aconsiderable distance the operation of the machine, and be advisedwhether it is correctly adjusting in one direction or the other forslight inaccuracies, or whether manual adjustment by the operator of thePIV transmission is required, as shown by the continued flashing of thesame lamp.

It will be noted that the adjusting movements, produced through theaction of the automatic electric eye devices, have no permanent effectupon the normally constant speeds of the die rolls or the feed rolls, sothere is no building up or accumulative effect which in time results inover correction and hunting, thereby causing objectionable variations inthe printed product.

The mode of operation and the control of the present machine make itpossible to operate at substantially higher speeds than prior machinesof this type, with improved quality of work, and less effort andattention on the part of the operator.

While in the accompanying drawings and in the foregoing specificationthe present invention is shown and described as embodied in a blankingmachine for producing blanks for shoe cartons, the invention is notlimited thereto, but may be embodied in other types and forms forforming blanks for boxes and other articles from webs of cardboard,paper, and the like. Any reference herein to boxes is to be understoodas in cluding box covers as well.

Where reference is made to a printed web, this is to be understood ascovering a web of box material to which printing has been directlyapplied as well as to 2,706,944 9 10 one to which a pre-printed web hasbeen secured as with said indicator when the knife reaches an equalherein specifically shown and described. Nor are the peripheraldisplacement approaching the severing posi terms "printing or printedmatter to be limited to tion, and means under the control of theoperator to words, letters, or numbers but are to be taken as inadjustthe die roll angularly to cause said indicator and cluding pictures andother ornamentation however propointer to register simultaneously withthe registration duced upon the box material or supplementary web of aguide mark and said fixed member the marks be so closely spaced. Nor isit essential that the lines along which the blanks are to be severed,haveating means may be applied to or formed on the Web. the blanks fromthe web at a fixed severing position, Having thus described theinvention, what is claimed means for continuously rotating the die rollat normally 1. The method of making printed box blanks Which with aguide-mark when one of said lines is at a preonsists in applying guidemarks to a dummy web at determined displacement from the severingposition, an predetermined spaced intervals, continuously advancingindicator upon the die roll, a fixed pointer in position constant linearspeed, adjusting the angular position mg position, and means under thecontrol of the opas on the dummy web. References Cited in the file ofthis patent 2. The method of making printed box blanks which consists inapplying guide marks to a dummy unprinted UNITED STATES PATENTS web atpredetermined spaced intervals, continuously ad- 798,274 Eisenbeis Aug.29, 1905 vancing such web to a continuously rotating severing 896,899Dietrich Aug. 25, 1908 knife, adjusting the speeds of the web and theknife to 1,538,361 Stamatson May 19, 1925 form dummy blanks with theguide marks positioned at 1,788,122 Petersen Jan. 6, 1931 predetermineddistance from the end of the blank, sub- 1,857,166 Speicher May 10, 1932stituting for the dummy web a web of printed box ma- 1,886,527 CottrellNov. 8, 1932 terial having guide marks thereon spaced as on the2,022,696 Tomlin et al. Dec. 3, 1935 dummy web, uniting the rear end ofthe dummy web 2,038,452 Sharkey et a1. Apr. 21, 1936 to the front end ofthe printed web without varying the 2,050,316 Gulliksen Aug. 11, 1936spacing of the marks, and thereafter advancing the printed 2,080,575Perry May 18, 1937 web to the rotating severing knife to form printedblanks. 2,151,570 Shoults Mar. 21, 1939 3. A blanking machine forforming box blanks from 2,230,715 Cockrell Feb. 4, 1941 a continuous webof box blank material having, in com- 2,278,933 Kott Apr. 7, 1942bination, a die roll, means for supplying and feeding 2,289,737 SorkinJuly 14, 1942 the web to the die roll, said roll having a knife for2,424,606 Engler July 29, 1947 severing the blanks from the web at afixed severing 2,497,909 Poole Feb. 21, 1950 position, means forcontinuously rotating the die roll 2,500,230 Bailey et al Mar. 14, 1950at normally constant speed, means for applying a series 2,521,435Wockenfuss Sept. 5, 1950 of uniformly spaced guide rrilarllis Itlo tbliegeb in fixgd 2,548,136 Auer Apr. 10, 1951 relation to the lines along wic t e an s are to e severed, a fixed member in position to registerwith the FOREIGN PATENTS guide-mark when one of said lines is at apredetermined 343,761 Great Britain Feb. 26, 1931 displacement from thesevering position, an indicator 480,783 Great Britain Feb. 24, 1938

